A newly discovered gene could hold the key to treating and potentially controlling chronic infections such as HIV, hepatitis and tuberculosis.The gene, called Arih2, is essential for embryo survival. Now scientists have found it controls the function of the immune system – making critical decisions about whether to switch on the immune response to an infection.It could help in the development of treatments for infections that 'overwhelm' the immune system like HIV as well as conditions that cause chronic inflammation such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr Marc Pellegrini (left) and Dr Greg Ebert were part of a research team that discovered a gene which is essential to the immune response to infection

The gene was discovered in dendritic cells by a team from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Australia. These cells act as an early warning system raising the alarm if they detect foreign invaders.'Arih2 is responsible for the most fundamental and important decision that the immune system has to make - whether the immune response should be initiated and progressed or whether it should be switched off to avoid the development of chronic inflammation or autoimmunity,' research leader Dr Marc Pellegrini, said.'If the wrong decision is made, the organism will either succumb to the infection, or succumb to autoimmunity.'

Dr Pellegrini said although our immune system works well against many infections, some organisms have developed mechanisms to evade or counteract the immune system, allowing them to persist in the body.
'During evolution, some organisms have evolved ways of exhausting our immune system to the point where the immune system just switches off, and this is what happens in HIV, hepatitis B and tuberculosis,' he said. 'These organisms counter the immune response – exhausting T cells which are stimulated over and over again by the infection and becoming exhausted or paralysed. 'With this current discovery, what we should be able to do is circumvent these mechanisms and reinvigorate the immune response temporarily to boost the immune system and help clear these infections.'Dr Greg Ebert said the research team was now looking at the effect on the immune response of switching off Arih2 for short periods of time during chronic infections. 'We are investigating how manipulating Arih2 and associated pathways promotes immunity in chronic overwhelming infections, where we know the immune response is inadequate,' he said.

HIV budding in human lymphatic tissue. The new gene discovery could pave the way for new treatments for the precursor to AIDS

He said Arih2 had significant promise as a drug target. 'Arih2 has a unique structure, which we believe make it an excellent target for a therapeutic drug, one that is unlikely to affect other proteins and cause unwanted side-effects,' Dr Ebert said. 'Because Arih2 is critical for survival, we now need to look at the effect of switching off the gene for short periods of time, to see if there is a window of opportunity for promoting the immune response to clear the infection without unwanted or collateral damage or autoimmunity.'Dr Pellegrini said they were very excited about their discovery but it would take many years to translate the discovery to a drug that could be used in humans.However, he added: 'It is probably one of the few genes and pathways that is very targetable and could lead to a drug very quickly.'The study was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and the Victorian Government.
Read more: Gene discovered that decides whether to 'switch on' immune system and could control HIV | Mail Online

nothing found, how to INCREASE that protein (by herbs), but a very good info on increasing/metabolism of TOTAL proteins...

Herbs for the Liver
The liver plays a key role in protein metabolism, converting toxic ammonia into more benign urea so that protein may be metabolized and either utilized by the cells immediately for energy, or converted into energy reserves in the form of glucose, or carbohydrates, and lipids, or fats. Among the more common of the hepatic herbs, or those with a tonic effect on the liver, are agrimony, balm, cascara sagrada, celery, cleavers, fennel, horseradish, hyssop, motherwort, prickly ash, yarrow and yellow dock. Bitters like wormwood, golden seal and gentian are also said to benefit the liver's metabolic functions.

Herbs for the PancreasThe pancreas secretes digestive enzymes that help metabolize dietary macronutrients, including protein, in the small intestines. According to the University of Maryland, herbs that support pancreatic health include cat's claw, grape seed, green tea, holy basil, rhodiola and Indian gooseberry. Certain Chinese herbs that may support the pancreas include Asian ginseng, cinnamon Chinese bark, as well as ginger, licorice and peony roots.

Herbs for the KidneysA common characteristic of kidney disease is trouble with blood protein synthesis. A 1995 study on nephrotic patients, or individuals with kidney disease, published in the "Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine" found that two common herbs in Chinese medicine, dong quai, otherwise known as angelica, and astragali, when combined with a high-protein diet, could facilitate improvement in a protein metabolism disorder and raise blood protein levels by increasing protein synthesis.

Ayurvedic HerbsIn Indian ayurvedic medicine, the herbs amalaki rasayan and chyawanprash are often used for their anabolic effects, including promoting protein synthesis. Amalki rasayan, or Emblica officinalis, also known as amla, is said to stimulate protein metabolism and increase total serum protein levels at the expense of fats, encouraging the creation of lean muscle mass. A clinical trial on the use of chyawanprash to improve the immune status of patients with recurring cold and cough symptoms confirmed that it raises total protein levels, another product of anabolic protein synthesis.

HONG KONG(Reuters) - A gene that keeps embryos alive appears to control the immune system and determine how it fights chronic diseases like hepatitis and HIV, and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, scientists said on Monday.

Although the experts have only conducted studies on the gene Arih2 using mice, they hope it can be used as a target for drugs eventually to fight a spectrum of incurable diseases.

Lead author Marc Pellegrini at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Australia said the gene appears to act like a switch, flipping the immune system on and off.

"If the gene is on, it dampens ... the immune response. And if you switch it off, it greatly enhances immune responses," Pellegrini said in a telephone interview.

"It is probably one of the few genes and pathways that is very targetable and could lead to a drug very quickly."

Arih2 was first identified by another group of scientists in the fruit fly but it drew the interest of Pellegrini's team because of its suspected links to the immune system.

In a paper published in Nature Immunology, Pellegrini and his team described how mice embryos died when the gene was removed.

Next, they removed the gene from adult mice and noticed how their immune systems were boosted for a short period of time. But it quickly went into an overdrive and started attacking the rodents' own healthy cells, skin and organs.

"The mice survived for six weeks quite well. Then they started developing this very hyperactive immune responses and if you leave it for too long, it starts reacting against the body itself," Pellegrini said.

Pellegrini and his colleagues hope that scientists can study the gene further and use it as a drug target to fight a large spectrum of diseases.

"It's like an accelerator. In infectious diseases, you want to slam on the brakes on this gene, and for autoimmune diseases, you want to push the accelerator to make it work much harder to stop the whole immune response," said Pellegrini.

"The more the gene works, the less of an immune response there is. And the less active the gene is, the more the immune response is."

"It's like an accelerator. In infectious diseases, you want to slam on the brakes on this gene, and for autoimmune diseases, you want to push the accelerator to make it work much harder to stop the whole immune response," said Pellegrini.

its really all a bit difficult to understand...

if you have an infection (chronic), then a lot of people take anti-histamines, what should have a similar (allegedly "positive") effect as shutting down the gene (?) ... or taking an anti-histamine would follow basically the same logic as shutting down the gene...(?)

but all that shut-down doesnt change the fact, that you DO HAVE an infection...
shutting down the gene would just help, to prevent the (killer etc)-cells from wearing down and developing autoimmune diseases, "but something" has to attack the infection... ?

if you have an infection (chronic), then a lot of people take anti-histamines, what should have a similar (allegedly "positive") effect as shutting down the gene (?)

Are you sure you dont mean antibiotics?

I dont mean to stalk you at all. But damn you post some weird shit, and in general dont read other posts the post without reading let alone editing what you post. Please, I know you are trying hard. Try harder.

Given that just a few years ago some healthy people were given a drug that was supposed to suppress part if their immune system, as it had done very safly in all the prior animal testing. As a result of this dose, one gent died, the rest ended up in intensive care and now how to worry about a serious risk of cancer for e rest of their lives.... As a result of this drug stimulating their immune systems to the point of killing them.

I suspect it's going to be a very very long time before anything in the op gets anywhere near a human

I dont mean to stalk you at all. But damn you post some weird shit, and in general dont read other posts the post without reading let alone editing what you post. Please, I know you are trying hard. Try harder.

nothing found, how to INCREASE that protein (by herbs), but a very good info on increasing/metabolism of TOTAL proteins...

Better watch out - ali's manning the trollbooth again.

Originally Posted by aging one

Originally Posted by alitongkat

if you have an infection (chronic), then a lot of people take anti-histamines, what should have a similar (allegedly "positive") effect as shutting down the gene (?)

Are you sure you dont mean antibiotics?

yeah, when he doesn't even know the difference between anti-histamines and anti-biotics, then the rest of his credibility is pretty much shot. Par for the course.... par for the damn course with trolls like him.